Family Defense

  • Decrease font size
  • Default font size
  • Increase font size
Articles and Issues

In this article published in the special Pro Bono Week issue of the Chicago Bar Association Record (October 2011), Executive Director Diane Redleaf and Staff Attorney Melissa Staas discuss the importance of the FDC's Pro Bono Program in helping us handle as many administrative cases (and help as many families) as possible:

Civil Rights, Individual Rights, and Administrative Law with a "Family Law" Twist: Using DCFS Hearings to Exonerate Wrongly-Accused Parents and Caregivers
 

In this three-part series of articles published in the American Bar Association Children's Rights Litigation Committee Newsletters, Diane Redleaf and FDC staff attorneys Melissa Staas and Jonathon Fazzola discuss how some mothers risk losing custody of their children because they fall into gender-specific categories, such as being victims of domestic violence or having depression:

Part One, published October 2011 (v. 14 no.1):

Protecting Mothers Against Gender-Plus Bias: Part 1 pdf

Part Two, published March 2012 (v.14 no.3):

Protecting Mothers Against Gender-Plus Bias: Part 2 pdf

Part Three, published July 2012 (v. 14 no. 4):

Protecting Mothers Against Gender-Plus Bias: Part 3 pdf
 

In a two part series that appeared in the American Bar Association Children's Rights Litigation's Newsletter, Diane Redleaf and Steven Pick explore the legal issues surrounding challenges to a child abuse registry listing.

Part I appeared in the Summer 2010 Newsletter and is available below beginning on page three.

http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/childrights/content/newsletters/childrens_summer2010.pdf 

Part II appeared in the Fall 2010 Newsletter and is available below beginning on page one.

http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/childrights/content/newsletters/childrens_fall2010.pdf 
 


Please help us make justice for families a reality. Please make contribution to the Family Defense Center today:

 
The Family Defense Center is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Administrative Login

Illinois Supreme Court decision in Julie Q. v. Dep't of Children and Family Services was highlighted in the March 25, 2013, issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: the the 6-0 decision declared DCFS's use of "Environment Injurious" rule exceeds the agency's legal authority.

Click here to read the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article pdf button

Click here to read the Illinois Supreme Court Decision in Julie Q. v. Department of Children and Family Services pdf button
 

Issue 14 (Winter 2013) of the Family Defender is now available: Click Here to Read the Full Version
 

Quick Links:

  • If you would like to keep up-to-date on upcoming events at the Family Defense Center, please Click Here to join our mailing list.
  • If you are part of a group or organization interested in working with the Family Defense Center, please send your contact information (including your phone number and address) to: fdc@familydefensecenter.net